Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After…
Chapter 600 Insult Without Cursing
Meryl had her phone on silent and only realized Anne had called her twice after finishing her task.
“Anne, what’s up?” she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
“I’m out of confinement now. The Paltrow family is throwing a celebration for Bella, and I just got the invitation,” Anne replied.
Meryl couldn’t help but feel puzzled by Dante’s thought process. “He knows how much pain he caused Anne by taking the baby without warning. Why would he go out of his way to send her an invitation? Isn’t that just rubbing salt in the wound?”
“Just wait for me; I’m coming over!” Meryl said, turning on her heel.
As she did, a piece of paper fluttered off her sketchbook. It landed on the floor, and a breeze swept it downstairs.
A few minutes later, Rachel happened to walk by and noticed the sheet of paper. She paused, her curiosity piqued, and bent down to take a look at the notes scribbled on it.
Chapter 600 Insult Without Cursing “What’s this?” she murmured to herself as she picked it up.
The handwriting was a bit messy, but it was clearly a musical score with some edits and doodles, likely capturing a moment of inspiration.
Rachel had a solid grasp of music theory, and as she compared the notes on the page, she began to hum the melody. When she finished, she was taken aback by her own reaction. Her heart raced with excitement, and her hands trembled slightly. This piece was beautiful! The paper was slightly crumpled, suggesting it had been discarded. Although she had only recently joined the orchestra, she was familiar enough with the members to know that this score wasn’t something just anyone could compose. Yet, she couldn’t quite place who might have created it.
Clutching the score tightly, she carefully folded the paper and tucked it away, planning to study it more closely later.
Meanwhile, Meryl had left the orchestra and was about to grab a taxi to meet Anne when she unexpectedly ran into Felix on the side of the road.
Felix lowered his gaze, hiding whatever emotions were brewing beneath the surface. “Where are you headed? I can give you a ride.”
Meryl had been waiting for a taxi for over ten minutes, and the area wasn’t the best for hailing one. She shook her head gently. “No, it’s okay. I can wait.”
Felix frowned, clearly displeased, “Why haven’t you been coming around lately? You don’t even reply to my messages.”
“I already helped you with your leg. What more do you want from me?” Meryl replied, her tone flat.
Felix’s expression hardened. “So, you’re avoiding me now?”
Meryl remained noncommittal, choosing not to engage.
Felix’s eyes darkened. “Let’s not forget, it was me who saved you that night at the concert hall. You’re just going to pretend that didn’t happen? And what about my jacket?”
Meryl blinked in surprise. “The jacket? Chandler took it, saying he’d return it to Felix. Wait, he didn’t?”
Chapter 600 Insult Without Cursing
The thought struck Meryl as amusing. “Seriously? Is Chandler still sulking over a jacket?”
She fell silent, realizing she couldn’t exactly tell Felix that Chandler had discarded it.
Felix, however, misinterpreted her silence. “If you’re into me, just say it. You don’t have to keep my jacket as a memento, clutching it and reminiscing about me.”
Meryl rolled her eyes at his bravado.
Seeing her silence, Felix smirked. “Honestly, after fixing my leg, I wouldn’t mind being a little more committed.”
Just then, a taxi finally approached in the distance.
Meryl quickly raised her hand, waving it a couple of times. The cab slowed down about 65 feet away.
With a smile, she shot Felix a teasing look. “Hey, has anyone ever told you that you’re a bit cheesy?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she stepped back, opened the taxi door, and hopped inside.
Felix sat there, stunned. “Did I just hear that? Meryl actually called me cheesy?”
Chapter 600 Insult Without Cursing
His face paled, and his expression froze in disbelief.
By the time he regained his composure and was ready to argue, the taxi had already pulled away.
Philip, sitting in the driver’s seat, didn’t dare lift his head, wishing he could be deaf at that moment. He kept repeating in his mind, “I didn’t hear anything. I didn’t hear anything at all…”
Just then, a hand suddenly clapped down on Philip’s shoulder from behind, startling him.
“Am I really that cheesy?” Felix’s voice was laced with annoyance.
Philip, caught off guard, thought, “What am I even supposed to say to that?”
After a moment’s hesitation, he replied softly, “Mr. Powell, you’re just being sincere with Ms. Stone.”
Felix casually leaned back in his seat, one hand stuffed in his pocket, exuding an air of relaxed confidence.
“Right? She doesn’t appreciate anything. Instead, she mocks me.”
He pulled out a cigarette, holding it between his lips without lighting it, flicking the lighter absentmindedly.
Chapter 600 Insult Without Cursing
A faint smile danced on his face, though it was barely perceptible. “Not obedient at all.”
Anne’s first meal after her recovery was fondue.
The two best friends were enjoying a girls‘ night out with no men in sight.
Anne had ordered the spiciest pot available, and as the heat hit her, tears streamed down her face.
“Tomorrow’s custody battle! I cannot lose! Why should I? I worked so hard to bring my baby into this world, and he just snatches her away without a second thought. Not to mention throwing a party for her under the Paltrow name! What is he even trying to prove?”
Meryl could see how much this was weighing on Anne, so she offered some comfort. “At least you’ll get to see Bella tomorrow.”
Anne bit into a piece of meat with ferocity, as if she were tearing into Dante himself.
“Not only do I want to see her, but I’m taking my daughter back! Just wait! I couldn’t go after him before because of my leg, but now that I’m healed, that jerk is going to realize he’s messed with the wrong woman!”
Chapter 600 Insult Without Cursing
The next morning, Meryl and Chandler headed to the Paltrow Manor gathering together.
The Paltrow family was pulling out all the stops for this event, sending invitations to all the notable names in Kingsdom.
As they stepped out of the car, the sun blazed down on them, almost overwhelming in its intensity. Chandler kindly shielded Meryl from the harsh light with his hand.
They exchanged a smile, their reflections shimmering in each other’s eyes, but when they turned around, they spotted Dalton and Lydia.
Lydia had been linking arms with Dalton, but as soon as Dalton saw Meryl, he immediately pulled his hand away, his demeanor turning cold.
Lydia’s face stiffened, but she didn’t say anything further. Her gaze fell pointedly on Meryl’s midsection. She said with her words dripping with sarcasm. “Meryl, you’re nearly five months along, right? How come your belly looks like it’s still only three months? Not much of a bump, is there?”
Meryl wore a loose–fitting dress, her hair casually pinned with a single hairpin, exuding a gentle and sophisticated beauty.
Chapter 600 Insult Without Cursing
At first glance, her stomach appeared flat.
Dalton cleared his throat a couple of times, subtly signaling Lydia to shut up.
To an outsider, it might have seemed like he was trying to protect Meryl from any awkwardness.
Recently, rumors had been swirling around Kingsdom that Meryl’s baby was actually Dalton’s. Though the buzz had died down somewhat, it didn’t mean people had forgotten.
Now, whispers began to ripple through the crowd as onlookers exchanged knowing glances.
Meryl’s expression darkened.
Chandler gently wrapped an arm around Meryl’s shoulders, sensing her frustration.
His gaze landed on Dalton, and he chuckled, “Hey, Dalton, your wife seems awfully concerned about my kid. You two should step up your game! I’d like to meet my grandnephew!”
Dalton was left speechless, thinking, “How is it that he hasn’t even cursed, yet I feel like he’s insulting me?”